Cruisin' the Coast: Record 7,000-plus cars

D'IBERVILLE -- More than 7,040 hot rods, antique and classic cars have set a record for the weeklong Cruisin' the Coast festival.

Organizers say that's nearly 1,000 more than last year's record of 6,191 cars driving down U.S. Highway 90, with stops in Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, D'Iberville, Gulfport, and Ocean Springs.

The festival wound up Sunday in Gulfport.

As of Saturday evening, 800 cars had signed up to return in October 2014, Director Woody Bailey told The Sun Herald.

"This is my favorite event," Ocean Springs resident Richard Styron told The Mississippi Press. "I like this better than Mardi Gras. It's a better event. I get off on Friday afternoon, get down here and pretty much spend the whole weekend here.

"I told one of the organizers they should do this twice a year," he added.